New England Marathi mandal celebrated Ganesh festival this year in a very traditional way. NEMM  had organized  Ganesh Pooja, which was followed by famous marathi play on 17th Sept. The event took place at very clean, newly built Littleton High School.

Every year, NEMM  organizes a big event on the occasion of Ganapati Utsav. This year , NEMM had arranged to do authentic, ceremonial Ganesh Pooja . The clay idol was brought from India by Mahesh Marathe. Vivek And Sonali Joshi did Pooja while Mr. Jayant Sane did ‘Pourohitya’ of poja. This was followed by Aarti. Pooja and Aarti took place from 1 to 2:30 PM.

The pooja  was followed by famous marathi play from 3 to 6:30PM. The play ‘ Tarun Turka Mhatare Arka’  is a famous comedy drama , written by noted Marathi writer Madhukar Toradmal.  Madhuwanti Nene directed the play. Along with the cast she rehearsed for 4 months before bringing up on stage, Ultimately, the performance  turned out to be very professional and applauded by the audience. Shobha Shastri provided the drapes and decoration for the play and the  whole program.

‘Well planned, very timely program and professional play marked NEMM’s this year’s Ganapati Utsav,’ said Mahesh Marathe of NEMM.  More information about NEMM and its upcoming activities can be found at http://www.nemm.org/

Though the Ganesh Chathurthi festival had largely been a private one, it was 1894, when the Maratha politician - Bal Gangadharva Tilak - also known as "Lokamanya Tilak" introduced a new way of celebrating the Ganapati festival as - collective community worship. He called it 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav' or Public Ganesh festival. Lord Ganesha is worshiped by chanting Bhanjans and Kirtans. Gradually, this public Ganesh celebration took a form of Festival. One act plays, classical music recitals, musical play, speeches by known speakers, and other forms of entertainment have become part of ‘Ganeshotsav’

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